H. Taylor Bowers

H. Taylor Bowers, 87, Kingsport, TN, formerly of Carlowville, AL, went to be with The Lord 5:00 a.m. on Wednesday, January 4, 2006, at Wellmont Holston Valley Medical Center following a lengthy illness.

He was born in Shell

Creek, TN.

Mr. Bowers served as a pilot in the Army Air Corp in World War II and the Air Force in Korea.

After working for Proctor and Gamble he was called to be a minister of education and church administration serving in the First Baptist Church, Tampa, FL, Central Baptist Church, Miami, FL, Metropolitan Baptist Church, Washington, D.C.,

and Huffman Baptist Church, Birmingham, AL. He retired in 1984 to Carlowville, AL where he served as pastor of Carlowville Baptist

Church until 2004. Mr. Bowers moved to Kingsport to be closer to his family in July 2004.

Mr. Bowers was a member of First Baptist Church in Kingsport, TN.

His parents, John and Macie Bowers, daughter, Linda Carolyn Bowers, and sister, Mary Womack preceded him in death.

Surviving are his wife, Melba Bowers, Kingsport, TN; son, David Bowers and wife Lynne, Kingsport, TN; three grandchildren, Laurie Assid and husband Raymond, D. Taylor Bowers, and Karen McKeehan and husband James; four great-grandchildren; and a brother, Chris Bowers and wife Pat, Elizabethton, TN.

Graveside services will be conducted at 10:00 a.m. Friday at Happy Valley Memorial

Park with Dr. Marvin Cameron. Family and friends will meet at 9:45 a.m. Friday at the cemetery.

A memorial service will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. Friday at First Baptist Church with Dr. Marvin Cameron officiating.

The family will receive friends immediately following the memorial service at the church.

Memorial contributions may be made to: Carlowville Baptist Church, c/o Hugh Strickland, 1111 County Road 417, Minter, AL 36761 or First Baptist Church, 200

West Church Circle, Kingsport, TN 37660.

Please visit www.hamlettdobson.com to leave an e-mail condolence for the Bowers family.

Tollie Wilson Pugh

Tollie Wilson Pugh, age 90, of Selma died Wednesday, January 4, 2006 in a local hospital.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 P.M. Friday, January 6, 2006 at Oak Grove Church in Clarke County with Rev Bealie Harrison officiating and Lawrence Brown-Service Funeral Home directing.

Mr. Pugh is survived by his wife of over 60 years, Vera Inez Pugh of Selma, sister, Lola Pugh Brown of Montgomery, and several nieces and nephews.

Family visitation will be Thursday January 5, 2006 from 6:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. at the funeral home.

Jessie Jackson Reese

Mrs. Jessie Jackson Reese, beloved wife and mother, was unexpectedly called to glory on Friday, December 31, 2005.

She was born on February 11, 1946, in Dallas County to the late Mr. and Mrs. Eddie Jackson.

She confessed her life to God and her belief in Jesus Christ as her savior at an early age. She became a member of St. Trinity Lutheran Church (which merged with Trinity Lutheran Church).

Jessie was joined in holy matrimony to Samuel L. Reese Sr. on May

30, 1968.

Jessie was employed at American Apparel, and later with the Selma City Schools where she touched the lives of many people.

She leaves to cherish her memories a loving and devoted husband, Samuel L. Reese Sr.

She also leaves: two loving and devoted daughters, Yolanda Reese Hamilton, of Montgomery, Al. and Angela Barnes of Boston, Ma; three Grandchildren, Samnesha Pullom, Ladarrian Hamilton, and Kadarjus Langdon, four sisters; Aggie Mae Dixon of Selma, Louise (Augustine) Cruz of Washington D.C., Lillie (Joseph) Coleman of Selma, Loretta Williams of Montgomery, Delois Johnson of Selma; one brother, Joseph (Charsetta) Jackson of Birmingham, Al., two sisters-in law, Alfredia Jackson of Clinton Ms., Dorothy Brazier of Wyoming, Mi., four brothers-in-law Clarence (Alice) Reese of Brandy, VA., Malachi Reese of Cleveland, OH., John A. Reese Sr. Of Selma, Arthur (Dorothy) Reese sr. Of Selma, three sisters-in law, Ardella king of Cleveland, oh, Ethel Thomas of Selma, Arzelia (Willie) Smiley, of Selma, one special friend, Gwendolyn Stewart of Selma, a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends who will miss her dearly.

Jessie was preceded in death by her son, Samuel l. Reese Jr.

Janet Wise Howard

Janet Wise Howard, age 67, died Tuesday, January 3, 2006 at home.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, January 6, 2006 at Lawrence-Brown Service Funeral Home Chapel.

Mrs. Howard is survived by her husband; Richard E. Howard Sr., son; Richard E. Howard Jr. and his wife; Teresa Rice Howard, daughters; Donna Howard Parrish and Elizabeth Ann Howard, grandchildren; Julia Howard, Kaylene Parrish, and Cody Howard, brother; William A. Wise Jr., sisters; Nancy Wise Nichols and Wendy Wise Cox, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Family visitation will be 6:00-8:00 p.m., Wednesday,

January 4, 2006 and Thursday

January 5, 2006 at the funeral home.

J.M. Gaston

J. M. “Jim” Gaston of Marion Junction passed away at his home on January 2, 2006 after a lengthy illness.

Funeral services will be held at Selma Funeral Home Chapel on Thursday, January 5, 2006 at 2:00 p.m. with Rev. Ira Blanchard officiating.

Burial will follow at Pineview Memory Gardens with Selma Funeral Home directing.

The family will receive friends beginning at 1:00 p.m. on January 5 at Selma Funeral Home prior to the funeral services.

Mr. Gaston was born July 16, 1916 in Frisco City,

Alabama.

He joined the United States Army in 1940 and served under General George Patton in Europe during World War II.

In 1945, he moved to Selma and founded Gaston’s IGA Supermarket, which he owned and operated until his retirement in 1990.

He was a member of Pisgah Presbyterian Church and a former member of Central Baptist Church where he served as the Men’s Sunday School teacher for over 35 years.

His active community involvement included being a past President of the Selma/Dallas County Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Exchange Club of Selma, past President of the Air Force Association, a member of American Legion Post 20, a member of Elks Lodge 167, and a founding member of the “Committee of 100” which was instrumental in bringing Hammermill Paper Company to Dallas County in 1865.

Mr. Gaston is survived by his wife, Ann Reynolds Gaston of Marion Junction; a son, Landis (Lynn) Gaston of Brandon, FL; a daughter, Marianne (John) Russell of Brandon, FL; a sister, Edna Gaston Wiggins of Monroeville; five grandchildren; five stepchildren; nine step grandchildren; two great-grandchildren and a number of nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Marion R. Gaston; his brothers and sisters, Alvin Gaston, Leroy Gaston, William Gaston, Frankie Gaston, Lola Mae Gaston Simmons and Louise Gaston Cole.

Pallbearers will be Albert Crovato, Jr., Ronald Davis, Wayne Goldsby, Carlton Lawley, John Ross Long, Samuel Oliver, Mike Reynolds and Tim Young.

Honorary pallbearers are Lee Bender, Albert Crovato, Sr., Dr. Donald Overstreet, Henry Sims, and Rev. Paul Walker.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Pisgah Presbyterian Church, Cahaba Hospice or a charity of choice.

John Edward Fretwell

John Edward Fretwell, 66, of Leesburg, Georgia died Tuesday, December 27, 2005 at his home.

His funeral service was held at 2:00

P.M. on Friday, December 30 at Kimbrell-Stern Chapel with Reverends Elbert Osteen and Buddy Majors officiating. Interment followed at Crown Hill Cemetery in Albany.

Mr. Fretwell was born on November 17, 1939 in Marion, Alabama to Stanley and Lois Fretwell who preceded him in death. He was a graduate of Perry County High School. After high school, Mr. Fretwell entered the poultry business which required moves to Chatsworth, Georgia; Corydon, Indiana; Camilla, Georgia; Fresno, California; and Franklin, Kentucky. He had lived in Lee County, Georgia for the past four years and was a member of First Southern Methodist Church. He had recently retired from Keystone Foods in Franklin, Kentucky and was working part-time at Lowe’s in Albany.

Survivors include his wife Gail Parker Fretwell of Leesburg, Georgia; three sons-Stan (Shanna) Fretwell of Statesboro, Georgia; Kevin (Janna) Fretwell of Leesburg, Georgia; David (Ragan) Fretwell of Statesboro, Georgia; a brother-Bill (Diane) Fretwell of Gainesville, Georgia; five sisters; Shirley (Thomas) Hill of Marion, Alabama; Mary Ruth (Buddy) Majors of McCalla, Alabama; Nettie (Gary) Mayatt of Collinsville, Mississippi; Barbara Hale of Sprott, Alabama; and Margaret (Wayne) Renfroe of Marion, Alabama; six grandchildren- Dailyn Fretwell; Parker Fretwell; McKenzie Fretwell; Brock Fretwell; Kimberly Fretwell; and Matthew Fretwell.

The family received friends from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. on Thursday at Kimbrell-Stern.

Pallbearers for the funeral were members of Coach Kevin Fretwell’s wrestling team from Monroe County High School in Albany.

Friends may sign the guest book and share special memories with the family of Mr. Fretwell by visiting Kimbrell-Stern’s website at www.kimbrellstern.com.